Byrnes moves closer to officially being Padres GM

Following the 1999 season, Byrnes joined Dan O’Dowd in moving from the Indians to the Rockies. Byrnes served three seasons as the Rockies assistant general manager under O’Dowd with an emphasis on scouting and player development. While in Colorado, Byrnes oversaw drafts that included Jeff Francis, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe.

With the Red Sox, Byrnes assisted Epstein in assessing major league personnel and contracts while remaining active in scouting. Byrnes played a role in the drafts that brought Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jonathan Papelbon to the Red Sox.

Two years after Byrnes became the Diamondbacks general manager, Arizona won the National League West title and reached the National League Championship Series.

Byrnes helped negotiate the trades that brought pitchers Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson to the Diamondbacks and presided over the drafts that added such young players as first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, third baseman Ryan Roberts and pitcher Josh Collmenter to the Diamondbacks.

Byrnes also made the trade that brought center fielder Chris Young to Arizona, although he lost outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Carlos Quentin via trades.

Although the Diamondbacks paid most of Byrnes' salary last year, a Padres source said that offset considerably decreases when Byrnes becomes the Padres general manager -- meaning the Padres won't reap a financial benefit from Byrnes replacing Hoyer.